Apparatus for the manufacture of carbonized fuel



May 31, 1932. s. R. ILLINGWORTH APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CABBONIZED FUEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov 21, 1929 llllll May 31, 1932. s. R. ILLINGWORTH 1,861,345,

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CABBONIZED FUEL Filed Nov 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEWART ROY ILLING-WORTH, 0F BRYNFEDWEN, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE ILLINGWORTI-I CARBONIZATIQN COMPANY, LIMITED, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GARBONIZED FUEL Application filed November 21, 1929, Serial No. 408,845, and in Great Britain November 23, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the carbonization of coal and like material.

The production of solid coke residue by the 5 carbonization of coal is at present carried out by either a high or low temperature method of carbonization.

In high temperature methods the apparatus, such as, for example, employed in gas works, consists of a retort or coke oven. of brick construction working with a fine (heating) temperature of above 900 C. The coke obtained is generally referred to as metallurgical coke and varies with the type of apparatus and with the nature of the coal.

In low temperature methods, the retorts are generally of metallic construction, and the main object is to produce high yields of by-products, of the order of (SO-100% in excess of high temperature practice. The coke produced is of high reactivity but not always of sound density and hardness. The gas yield is in quantity about one half and in thermal yield about that produced in high temperature apparatus.

The two above described types of apparatus are not economically interchangeable in function; moreover, they lack mobility since their successful operation is confined to coals of specific nature and size. The products derived from a coal are a function of the temperature of carbonization both in regard to quantity and quality. Maximum gas yield results with high temperature operation, maximum by-product yield results with low temperature operation. Reactivity of coke is favoured by low temperature operation but mechanical hardness is favoured by intermediate temperatures, and for each type of coal there is a specific minimum temperature for the production of robust coke. The swelling properties of coal, the reactivity of coke are a question of heat penetration and there exist coals which do not produce a sound coke at high temperatures yet produce an excellent coke at say around 600 C. The rate of heat penetration is in essence a function of the width of the ovens, i. e. the maximum distance from the heat transmitting surfaces of the furthest removed coal. Existing low temperature practice, there exists a maximum temperature beyond which it is not safe to operate, having regard to deterioration and even failure of the apparatus. Consequently the several types of plant are restricted not only to particular coals, but to particular temperatures of operation i. e. restriction to market on account of lack of variability in the products. It is conceded that certain types of plant operated on coals selected as to size and nature and heated by internal circulation of hot gases do confer a certain mobility of operation but these are unsuitable for treating the fines of bituminous coal and due to the larger sizes of coal which they must contain in their charge, the coke is of poor mechanical strength and property.

The object of the presentinvention is to provide an oven structure that enables coke and by-products of any desired variation to be produced from a given coal and particularly from the fines of bituminous coal. The construction is such that the'heat penetration can be modified at will on an economic basis so that coals of widely different natures can be treated in one installation which can be operated at high or low or any intermediate temperature on an economic basis thus conferring mobility on the nature and the amount of the products, with a consequent economic advantages of meeting variation in market conditions. For example, in a gas works the demand for gas varies with the season, but by means of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention it is possible during the slack seasons to obtain a smaller quantity of gas yet a coke of wider market value due to its higher reactivity, enabling it to be sold for practically any purpose that coals or coke are used. The same ioo apparatus will produce naphthalene free tar oils with a minimum of pitch i. e. obtain relative high yields of motor spirit with fuel oil or alternatively, it can be turned over to the production of high gas yields, coke of a metallurgical nature, benzol and by-products commonly known as coal tar products with the consequent production of a higher yield of pitch. This apparatus is not confined to a stereotyped coal, and coals may be utilized possessing lesser cementing qualities than is requisite for high temperature.

This invention is especially applicable to a low temperature retort plant of the character shown in the Illingworth British Patents Nos. 223,624, 244,505 and 245,190 with reference to which it is hereinafter described and illustrated.

These Illingworth retorts comprise a brickwork outer setting, a nest or nests of metal tubes constituting the carbonizing retorts preferably so mounted that any defective tube can be withdrawn, and tubes of refractory material extending outside the nest or nests of metal retorts, which tubes form the fines for the heating gases, the main object of this invention being the construction of such a retort, whereby it is capable of use for both high and low temperature carbonization.

According to the present invention I mount the metal retorts on detachable seatings at the base of the brickwork setting, whereby the retorts may be completely withdrawn for high temperature carbonization.

hen, therefore, it is desired to change over from low to high temperature work, the seatings are removed and each metal retort may be withdrawn downwardly through the bottom of the retort. For this purpose it is desirable that substantial clearance be provided between the side of the metal retorts and the surface of the brickwork setting.

The brickwork setting is also preferably modified by constructing it with thicker bricks, say 3% thick, and with upwardly tapering walls to facilitate discharge of the fuel when in use as a high temperature retort. The setting may be built up of tongue and groove bricks and the fines according to a further feature of the invention, formed between two courses of bricks, each flue being cut Ofi by a tile extending across and built into each course.

In one arrangement suitable for use where the retorts are built up of H section members, the seatings are detachably bolted to the substructure of the retort setting and are formed of pairs of plates of a length corresponding to the sides of the metal retorts and having an L-shaped ledge for supporting the retort, the L of each pair of plates facing inwardly.

In another arrangement the retorts may be carried on support plates which rest-upon the seatings and are formed with a series of recesses for the reception of say, two rows of retorts, and for convenience of handling are divided into short lengths across their width.

Above the carbonizing retorts is a duct or take ofi'-chamber for the distilled gases and this may be formed of a top plate provided with apertures corresponding to the recesses in the support plate, for positioning and holding the upper ends of the subretorts, and is mounted on a suitably formed ledge on the brickwork setting. Lift off and on doors or covers are provided above, each subretort and carried on a door frame also supported on the brickwork setting. Alternatively the cup rings and sealing plate shown in Figures 7 and 8 of British specification No. %4,837 may be employed.

The subretorts may be charged by tube feeds according to our former practice.

To convert from low temperature work or smokeless fuel production to high temperature carbonization the door frame and top plate are both removed and the subretorts are slightly raised to ease their weight from the base plate (lifting holes being provided for this purpose). The support plate (if provided) is now removed by lifting at the centre and bringing it out short side first. The seatings are next unbolted from the substructure when the subretorts are free to be lowered out. Closing bolts are now screwed into the substructure to close up the holes of the holding bolts for the seatings. Alternatively steam connections can be screwed into these holes so that steam can be employed when the retort is used for high temperatures.

It will be observed that the support plate is a dummy base or bottom cover to the subretorts and is removed during high temperature operation. The seatings which are bolted to the substructure or setting are also renewable which is desirable for dual operation owing to the high temperature to which they are submitted.

According to this invention also the bottom flue is provided with an insulating member, which rests upon its bottom surface and extends up to each side and along the complete length of the flue to insulate it from the base plate or substructure of the retort setting.

This member may consist of a slab or slabs of suitable material, and is preferably of semi-circular section to deflect and allow accesi of the heat to the bottom of each side wa l.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a retort suitable for both high and low temperature operation.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line IIII of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an enlarged section showing in detail the support plate and bottom door.

Figures 4 and are respectively a sectional elevation and detail perspective view of a 5 modification.

In the drawings 1 is the retort setting and 2 are the carbonizing retorts termed conductors for low temperature carbonization which may be of rectangular ellipsoid, circular or other cross section. 3 are flues (Figures 1, 3 and 4) for the heating gases. 16 is the off take for the volatile matter.

In the present invention the conductors 2 are supported at their lower ends on support plates a (Figures 1-3), which are provided with recesses b of the same shape as the retorts. As shown they are adapted to carry two rows of conductors and for convenience in handling, they may be divided transverse- 20 ly into sections for supporting two such pairs of conductors. The plates a rest upon seatings c which are detachably secured to a part of the base plate or substructure d by bolts 6, and for this purpose the seatings 0 may he tongued as at e to mate with a corresponding groove in the part d. The parts d are formed in one with or carried by the brickwork setting and, as shown, may have suitable fittings for mounting the bottom door, being also formed with an outward curve or taper f in order to make an efficient seal therewith.

It will be noted that the inner walls 9 of the retort setting are tapered, and at their upper ends form a seating for a top plate It in which are apertures corresponding to the recesses in the support plates a. Inspection doors 2', which rest in seatings in a frame j attached to the setting, are provided above each retort.

The above described arrangement, where the plates a are provided for supporting the conductors. is more especially intended for use with conductors of circular section.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, which construction is intended more particularlv for use with H section conductors, the retorts 2 are directly supported at their lower ends upon the seatings 0 and which are provided with a ledge 70 of a length substantially equal to the sides or vertical limbs of the H conductors.

The brickwork setting is built up of tongue and groove bricks 9', preferably of such thickness as to give a 3 thick wall. which has an upward taper for the purpose of high temperature carbonization. The flues are formed between two vertical courses of bricks, each flue being cut off by a tile m extending across and being built into each course.

On the base at of the bottom flue an insulating member 0 is provided which consists of a slab or slabs of material, and is of semi-cir- 65 cular section to deflect and allow access of the heat to' the bottom of each side wall; The slabs 0 extend the whole length of the flue to insulate it from the base a which is insulated from the base plate proper or substructure of the furnace by a member p.

In operation when it is:desired to change over from low to high temperature carbonization, the conductors are lifted off their seatings which are then removed to allow the conductors to be withdrawn downwardly.

It will be seen that in addition, by means of this invention the metal retort seatings are separate fromthe base plate or substructure of the retort whichjof itself is an advantage in that they are renewable, which owing to the heat to which they are subjected, is sometimes necessary.

What I claim is 1. In a convertible apparatus for the manufacture of carbonized fuel, the combination of a retort-setting, an upright high-temperature-carbonizing-retort mounted in said retort setting, with a heating space therebetween, a pluraity of vertical low-temperature-carbonizing-retorts supported within said high-temperature retort, and end-wisely removable therefrom, and removable means for closing the lower ends of all the carboniz ing retorts and for permitting the aforesaid end-wise removal of the low-temperature-carhonizing-retorts to thereby convert the apparatus into a high-temperature carbonizing apparatus and means forming a gas-take-oif space at the top of the retort setting communicating with said low temperature carbonizing retorts.

2. In a convertible apparatus for the manufact-ure of carbonized fuel, the combination of a retort-setting, an upright high-temperature-carbonizing-retort mounted in said retort setting, with a heating space therebetween, a plurality of vertical low-temperaturecarbonizing-ret0rts supported within said high-temperature retort, and end-wisely removable therefrom, a removable seatingmember for the low-temperature-carbonizing-retorts, a removable support for said seatingmember, and a movable closure door for closing the lower ends of both the hightemperature and the low-temperature retorts and means forming a gas-take-ofl' space at the top of the retort setting communicating with said low temperature carbonizing retorts.

3. In a convertible apparatus for the manufacture of carbonized fuel, a retort-setting having a top-pate cover, an upstanding hightemperature-retort mounted in said retortsetting and spaced away therefrom to provide a heating space and spaced from said top plate cover, a cover plate for said hightemperature retort arranged below the top plate of the retort-setting and spaced therefrom, a plurality of upright low-temperatureretorts within said high-temperature-retort and having their upper ends extending through said cover plate so as to deliver gas products into the space between said top plate cover and said cover plate, means within the lower end of the high-temperature retort for supporting said low-temperature retorts, devices whereby the supporting means may be removed downwardly out of said high-temperature retort, and a closure means for the lower ends of both the high-temperature retort and the low-temperature retorts.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name this 11th day of November, 1929.

STEWART ROY ILLINGWORTH. 

